While the exact identity of this person is unknown, a
self-proclaimed memorabilia dealer has been emailing various
media outlets for weeks trying to get them to write a story about
Gurley taking money for autographs. Both SB Nation and Deadspin
say they were contacted by the person, and in
an email to Deadspin the person claims he also contacted TMZ
and Sports Illustrated.

"I have video of Todd Gurley doing a private autograph signing
***. He has been paid thousands of dollars for his stuff over the
last 18 months. I personally paid him for this signing on the
video. I have bought and sold game used equipment from him.

"I want no compensation. Just want someone to leak this story
that's deserving."

In
an email to Deadspin, he offered the same video and said he
was ratting Gurley out because Gurley had done autograph signings
with other dealers, hurting the value of his Gurley-signed
memorabilia:

"Again, not trying to get rich. I spent a few grand on the
signing and Gurley has since kind of screwed me by doing this
with about 30 other guys. The stuff has lost a ton of its value.
Just wanna recoup some of my money."

No media outlets bit on the tip. Gurley was only suspended when a
person told Georgia that he paid Gurley $400 for some autographs,
according to the SI report.

To recap, a vindictive autograph dealer - who is free to make
money off the name and likeness of college athletes who are
barred from doing so themselves - felt slighted by Gurley and
tried to rat him out to the media. A few days later an autograph
dealer (who may or may not be the same person) went to Georgia
and told them he paid Gurley $400. And now Gurley's career is
probably over.

It's unfair on a number of levels.

Gurley should have never been barred from selling autographs in
the first place. The fact that Todd Gurley is the only person in
the world who can't make money off the name "Todd Gurley" is
absurd. Even if you don't want college athletes to be paid
salaries, it's hard to justify making something as petty as an
autograph a major crime.

Johnny Manziel, who found himself in a similarly frivolous
autograph scandal last year, has seen this before:

It's also unfair that the NCAA investigation into Gurley's case
last for weeks, forcing him to set out of game after game even
he's cleared of any allegations. All over $400.

In the end a lone autograph dealer who allegedly paid a player a
negligible amount of money might have single-handedly ended that
player's career over something that's only illegal within the
contrived ethical structure of the NCAA.

The NCAA finds itself executing the vendetta of
a bag man against a player, which tells you everything you
need to know about that system's priorities and biases.